Cesare Casadei believes his early return from loan in the 2023/24 season was the right decision, thanks to the invaluable lessons learned during his time away. These experiences allowed him to settle in England and prepare for the step up to Chelsea’s first team.

The young Italian midfielder joined Chelsea in the summer of 2022 after impressing in Inter Milan’s youth system. Initially, he linked up with Chelsea’s Academy, playing regularly for the Under-21s. His development continued with loans to Reading and Leicester City in the Championship. Halfway through his stint at Leicester, Casadei was asked to cut his loan short and return to Chelsea in January to bolster the midfield amid an injury crisis.

Despite the lack of guaranteed playing time at Stamford Bridge, Casadei was eager to return. Reflecting on his decision, the 21-year-old stated, “Chelsea is my team, and that was my dream, to be able to play for Chelsea. Going on loan is part of the journey, but my target was always to come back here.”

Casadei went on to make 11 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in the 2023/24 season. His debut against Liverpool was challenging, ending in a 4-1 defeat, but he learned a lot from the experience. “It was a great moment to play my first game for Chelsea, even though that was probably not the best game we played. The chance to play in a stadium like Anfield doesn’t happen every day.”

His time at Reading and Leicester was instrumental in preparing him for life at Chelsea. Casadei highlighted the importance of these loans in helping him adapt to the physicality and tempo of English football. “Football is more or less the same in all the world, but going on loan helped me to grow as a player and as a person. It was my first experience in real football, with adults, and it taught me a lot about the game’s intensity.”

One significant lesson from his loans was adapting his game to handle the increased physicality of senior football. In Academy football, his strength often saw him through, but in the senior game, he had to refine his technique and focus on the finer details.

Off the pitch, Casadei also adapted to English culture, though he admits it took time to get used to the food. Growing up with parents who ran a family restaurant in Ravenna, Italy, he initially struggled with English cuisine. However, his cooking skills, honed from an early age, allowed him to prepare Italian dishes when he missed home.

Reflecting on his journey, Casadei said, “I’ve gotten used to English food now. Before, it was not so easy for me, but those are things you get used to when living in a country. I’m pretty good at making Italian food because I’ve always been used to cooking at home. Sometimes, if I need to know something for a recipe, I can still ask my mum!”

Casadei’s parents, no doubt, are proud of his achievements and watched his Premier League debut with pride from Italy. As for Casadei, he welcomed the call to return to Chelsea, ready to demonstrate the skills and maturity gained from his loan experiences.

Casadei’s journey underscores the value of loan spells in a young player’s development, providing the experience and confidence needed to succeed at a top club like Chelsea.